Katapult to bring ‘mischief and magic’ to children’s charity’s new base

Themed attraction designer Katapult has teamed up with Over The Wall Camp to help reimagine the new Derbyshire base of the children’s charity.

After being selected as the beneficiary of the firm’s 2026 Helping Hands initiative, Katapult will provide £15,000 worth of pro-bono creative design expertise to help inject “mischief and magic” into the charity’s newly acquired permanent home: the historic 17-acre former Ockbrook School.

Founded by Hollywood legend Paul Newman and UK businessman Joe Woods in 1999, Over The Wall Camp provides free, transformational residential camps for children and young people (aged eight to 17) facing serious health challenges.

For many of the 50,000 children in the UK living with limiting health conditions, life is often defined by hospital visits and the isolation of being “different.”

Over The Wall Camp changes that narrative through its unique therapeutic recreation model.

By providing a medically safe environment supported by a volunteer team of doctors and nurses, the charity allows children to step outside their comfort zones through various activities, helping campers rediscover their confidence, resilience and the simple joy of being a child.

After 25 years of operating as a travelling camp across rented sites, the move to Ockbrook allows the charity to create a world-class, purpose-built facility that will quadruple the number of children it can support.

Katapult’s Helping Hands initiative, now in its eighth year, was established to support non-profits and community projects in the leisure and attractions industry.

By partnering with Over The Wall Camp, Katapult will use its expertise in guest experience and master planning to ensure the new campus is not just a medical facility, but a place of “mischief and magic”.

Dawn Foote, chief executive and co-founder of Katapult, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Over The Wall Camp to our Helping Hands family for 2026.

“Their mission to empower children through play and adventure aligns perfectly with our own passion for creating meaningful experiences.

“Working on the Ockbrook campus is a unique opportunity to blend heritage preservation with cutting-edge inclusive design.

“We can’t wait to help them turn this historic site into a beacon of joy for families across the UK.”

Shea Donovan, chief operating officer at Over The Wall Camp, said: “Securing the Ockbrook site is the start of a new era for us.

“Having the creative minds at Katapult join us on this journey is incredible.

“Their expertise will be vital in helping us reimagine how our campers interact with the site, ensuring that every corner of the new campus inspires confidence and provides the magical escape our children deserve.”